BEHNER, Frederick Charles: Died 1925

BEHNER, TAYLOR, FALLON, MOON, CRICHFIELD, MILLER, FRYE

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 10/24/2016 at 17:25:00

**Handwritten: Behner 1925

MEMOIR

Frederick Charles Behner, son of John Jacob and Catherine Behner, was born October 3, 1862, at Peoria, Ill., and died November 20, 1925, at Birmingham, Iowa, at the age of 63 years, 1 month and 17 days.

Of his father's family, one sister preceded him in death, Sarah, wife of Rev. J.T. Taylor, formerly missionary to India, now a pastor in California. Surviving him are two brothers and two sisters: Jack Behner, Halfway, Oregon; Rev. Geo. H. Behner, Hanford, Cal.; Mrs. Elizabeth Fallon, Los Angeles, Cal., and Mrs. W.A. Moon, Davenport, Iowa.

The deceased spent his early life in Peoria, Ill. Later in young manhood he lived on a farm near Hopedale, Ill. There he was united in marriage to Emma Josephine Crichfield of McLean, Ill. To them were born four children: Albert J. of Denver, Col.; Alta B. wife of A.C. Miller, Weston F. and Bernice R. all of Birmingham. The mother passed away more than three years ago while the family resided at Knoxville, Iowa.

The deceased was married a second time on March 5, 1923, to Mrs. Dora Frye of West Grove, Iowa. She was with him until the close of his life, and now shares the bereavement of the family in their loss.

Mr. Behner became a member of the Free Methodist church in Peoria, Ill., at about the age of 20 years under the ministry of Rev. W.G. Hammer(?). After a number of years on the farm in Illinois and in Iowa, near Conrad and Cedar Falls, during which time he was an exhorter and a local preacher, he finally entered the traveling ministry of the Free Methodist church in the Iowa Conference, being stationed at Fairfield as his first pastorate.

In succession he was pastor at Birmingham, Eldon, Knoxville and Birmingham a second time. For a few years he was a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene, serving churches in Bloomfield and Farmington.

His declining health, due to paralysis, made retirement necessary at the last season of the Iowa Conference, and he lived his last weeks among his friends in Birmingham, residing near the Camp Ground, where he had spent many happy days in other years.

Funeral services were held Sunday, November 22, in the Free Methodist church of Birmingham. The sermon was preached by Rev. F.M. Smith of Des Moines, assisted by Rev. W.T. Ogle of Birmingham, Rev. R.T. Fine of Fairfield, and Rev. L.V. Nash of Birmingham. Interment in Maple Hill cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book H, Page 9, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA